Mold



July 14, 1931.

E. G. GRUNDSTROM MOLD 2 sheets-sheer 2 Filed Aug. 7, 1929 Patented July 14, 1931 Pa'raNr OFFICE -ERIK e. enulvnsrnomor crIIcAGo, ILLINOIS' MOLD Application led August 7, 1929. Serial No. 384,051.

rlfhis invention relates to improvements in the methodwof and apparatus for molding or die casting metals which are normally nonmalleable by applying the forming pressure to the material while the metal is in a molten state. Principally my. improvements relate to the forming of articles of metals such as aluminum alloys whi are non-malleable when solid but can be fo med into the desired shape by applying a molding pressure while the metal is in a molten condition.

In carrying out the present invention, the molten met-al is introduced directly into a lower die cavity and an uppei` plunger is then brought down -to cause the metal to flow and take-the shape of the molded article. Various means have heretofore been roposed to mold articles in such a manner, ut adequate provision has not been made to permit the escape of the air and the excess metal and at the Vsame time cause the metal to fill the mold. Thus it is customary to provide a recess'whichoutwardly extends from the edge of the formed article to permit the escape of the excess metal, thus leaving a continuous flash which must be subsequently re' moved. It is also customary to use a subpresent improvement-s will be more readily stantially large size gate opening at one point which receives the excess metal.

It is an object of the present improvements to permit the escape of the air and excess `metal through a plurality of relatively restricted passageways which uniformly surround the formed article and lead outwardly therefrom. By such a provision of vent openings, the metal is caused to iow evenly to every part of the mold. A

It is further anobject of the present invention to provide improved apparatus for mold- 40 Fing articles of'special shape,'such` as, for example, an article having a horizontally extending rim and a vertically extending cylindrical rim that is inwardly spaced from the outer edge of the horizontal cylindrical mold block is formed with a plurality of radially extending narrow vent openings which outwardly lead from the die cavity, and secured to the lower mold block in .such

rim. 'In the improved apparatus the lower` to form the vertically extending cylindrical rim is a pair of relatively openable half ring members, the inner vertical edge of the ring members being formed'with a plurality of recessed vent openings of relatively narrow size which outwardly lead from the cylindrical vertical rim of the formed article. By such an organization, the air and the excess metal is permitted to extrude both through the outwardly extending radial vent openings and also upwardly through the vertically extending vent openings, and the completed `article maybe readily removed from the mold after the retraction of the plunger by opening the half ring members.

It is further. an 0b] ect of the present invention to provide improved molding appa` ratus of the type just described in which a, circular gutter is formed in the cooperating rin portions just above the vertically exten ing vnt recesses, whereby the excess metal is permitted to collect in the gutter and to form upwardly extending from said gutter, at points intermediately spaced from the vent recesses, a plurality of additional vent recesses to permit the escape ofthe air.

`Further objects and advantages of the apparent from the following description taken in connection with the attached drawings, which illustrate preferred embodiments of my. improved molding apparatus, -in which- Figure 1 is a vertical sectional elevation taken through the closed mold and illustrating the formation of the articles, the section being taken in such a` manner as to most clearlyA illustrate the construction;`

Figure 2 is a vertical elevation illustrating fthe plunger in raised position and the mold in section on the plane indicated by 2- 2 1n Figure 3, the plane 2 2 being, substantially at right angles to the plane of the section shown in Figure l;

Figure 3 is a top plan view of the lower mold with the right-hand half ring member shown in partially opened position to more clearly illustrate the construction; and

Figure 4 is a vertical sectlonal elevation through a mold of modified constructionfor forming a slightly diderent shape of article. Jef! y First having reference to the apparatus shown in Figures 1, 2 and 3, it will be noted that the article 10 which is beingformed is a cover member and includes a recessed body portion 11 which extends to a horizontal cylindrical rim 12 and also to a vertical cylindrical flange 13 which is inwardly spaced from the outer edge of the rim 12. My improvements are especially adaptable to the formation of articles of metals which are .relatively non-malleable and may be most readily formed into shape by causing the metal while in the molten state to flow to take the shape of the formedV article. As an instance of metal that may be'formed by the present method and apparatus, I may use an aluminum alloy. The molten metal to form the article 10 is placed in the recessed cavity 14 of the lower die member 15. From the outer rim `of the cavity 14 extend substantially small size radial recesses .16, -for a purpose which will be later more clearly apparent.

dThe plunger member 17 may be arranged to be moved by some suitable means into cooperation with the lower mold block 15. The

plunger 17 includes the head 18 having bolts 19 extending therethrough to attach the upper die member 20, which is so formed as to cooperate with the lower moldblock 15 to.

form the article 10. l The die 20, therefore, includes'a cylindrical portion 21 to form the rim 13 of the article 10. It is apparent that additional mold blocks must beV provided in order to form the rimsV 12 and 13. I therefore show a pair of cooperating clamp memv bers 22-22. As will be apparent from Figures 2 and 3, the members 22 include pivot ears 23--23 which are positioned by the bushing 24 having a bolt 25-extending therethrough. and screw-threaded to an opening 26 formed 1n the lower mold block 15. A washer 27 surrounds the bolt 25 and seats against i .bers 22 in molding position, I` may form the the upper pivot ear 23, as will be evident from Figure 2, and a lock nut 28 is provided to securely -hold the parts in engagement: The members 22 are adapted t'o close at their front ends, as shown in Figure 3, about a corresponding pivot bolt 29, which has a screwthreaded portion 30 engaging the opening 31v formed inthe mold block and associated with the holding washer 32 and the lock nut 33.

Suitable handles 34--34 may be secured to the members 22 to permit their being readily swung about the pivot 25.

As additional m'eans-for holding the memlower mold block 15 with the outwardl extending lugs 35- 35 beneath which the b cks 36-36 will be engaged. The blocks" 36 Aare arranged to *bel carried by the members22A .by providing the downwardly `depending lates 37-37, which are secured-to the memers 22v by the bolts 38V. Additional bolts 39 YholdvtheY blocks 36 to'xthel plates 37. Thus when the members 22 are in closed position I l and the lock ,nuts have been tightened, the

ter 40 has connections to the rim 13 of the formed article bythe plurality of verticallyl extending recesses 41, which are uniformly spaced aboutthe rim 13. The gutter also has communicating vent openings to the outsideby means of the recessed passageways 42, which are substantially narrower than the passageways 41 and intermediately spaced relative to the passageways 41.

In the operation of the apparatus, the molten metal will be placed in the cavity of the lower mold block 15 after' the members 22 have been suitably clamped into, position. ,The plunger 17 is then brought down and causes the metalto fiow to Ltakel the shape of the mold. The metal will/y be caused to flow evenly to the extreme edges of the mold. The recesses 16 are of such small size that vonly air will be permitted to escape therethrough. rlhe vertical openings 41 perm1t the escape of air and lrfinally allow the excess metal to be extruded nd collect in the gutter (40. The plunger is hen'retracted and the completed article may be removed after the clamp mold blocks 22 have been swung to open position.

Figure 4 i similar to that described, but adapted to form adilerent shape of article. The article 50 is a cup-shaped member having a single c1r- 'cular rim 51. It is obvious that it will only be necessary to .provide the vertical vent openings 41 together with the gutter 4 0 and the vents 42. The operation will be similar in every other respectA to that previously describe As characteristic of my improved method it'may be stated that the air is permitted to escape during the molding operation through a plurality of restricted passages uniformly llustrates an apparatus generally spaced about the edge of the mold. If the air even distribution of the metal to the extreme edges of the mold. e

Various changes and modigations may be resorted to without departing from Athe spirit ofmy invention as expressed in the appended claims.

I claim- 1. Apparatus for molding articles of metal which is normally vnon-malleable comprising a lower formingmember having a die cavity molding position, said upper mold block and y therein andan upper forming member adapted to be moved to cooperate with said lower forming member to-cause the metal in a molten state to flow and take the form of the mold, said lower-forming member including a portion-upwardly extending from the top edge of the formed article and having formed therein a plurality of recesses adapted to cooperate with said Aupper forming member to form a plurality of restricted passages permitting the escape of the gases and the excess metal.

2. Apparatus for forming articles from metal normally non-malleable by molding the metal in a molten state, which comprises a lower forming member having a die cavity therein, an upper forming member having a die portion adapted to cooperate with the die. cavity of the lower forming member, said lower forming member having a plurality of .passages outwardly leading from the upper edge of the formed article to permit the escape ofV gases.

3. Apparatus for molding articles from metal in a molten state which comprises a lower mold block, an upper mold block, said mold bloc'ks being mounted for .relative movement, av pair of cooperating mold pieces adaptedl to be secured to said lower mold block and to closely cooperate with the sides of said upper mold block, said mold pieces including a plurality of vertical recesses adapted to cooperate with the sides of said upper mold block to form a plurality of restricted vent passages outwardly leading from the upperedge of the formed article.

4. Apparatus formolding articles from metal in a molten state which comprises a lower mold block, an upper mold block said mold blocks being mounted for relative movement, a pair of cooperating mold pieces adapted to be secured to said lower mold block and to closely cooperate with the sides of said upper mold block, said mold pieces including a plurality of vertical recesses adapted to cooperate with the sides of said upper moldblock to form a plurality of restricted vent passages outwardly leading from the upper edge of the formed article, said `lower mold block including a plurality of recesses formed on its upper surface adapted to cooperate with the lower surface' of said mold' piecesto form a plurality of additional vent passages outwardly leading from an edge of the formed article.

5. Apparatus for-forming molded. metal articles which comprises a lower metal block having a die cavity therein, an upper mold block mounted for relative movement into cooperation with said lower mold block, mold pieces pivoted to said lower mold block, and f means for securingsaid pivoted mold pieces y in closed position closely surroundingsaidupper mold block upon its movement into a to a molding position, said upper mold block and said pivoted mold pieces forming therebetween a plurality of substantially vertical restricted vent passages, and said lower mold block and pivoted mold pieces forming therebetween a plurality of substantially horizontal restricted vent passages, said vent passages permitting the escape of gases during the molding operation. v

7. Apparatus for molding metal articles comprising a lower forming member having a die cavity therein, an upper forming` mem- -ber adapted to be moved to cooperate with said lower formingfmember tov cause the metal, in a molten state, to flow andtake the form of the mold, one of said forming members having a plurality of spaced recesses adapted to cooperate with the other ormin member to form a plurality of restricte passages permitting the escape of the gases and excess metal.

Signed at Chicago, Illinois, this 1st day of August, 1929.

ERIK G. GRUNDSTROM. 

